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Half-Day Milford Sound Flight and Cruise from Queenstown

627 Reviews 4.97 out of 5 stars Based on 627 reviews collected by City Boat Tours and TripAdvisor | Recommended by 100% of reviewers |
Badge of Excellence |Badge of Excellence This experience is highly rated by travelers and has met our top quality standards.
Queenstown, New Zealand

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5 hours (approx.)
Hotel pickup offered
Mobile ticket

Overview

Milford Sound is an area of extraordinary natural beauty. It offers a majestic fiord, dramatic and awe-inspiring scenery and prolific flora and fauna. This tour with Air Milford allows you to combine the stunning flight to Milford Sound with a beautiful cruise on the fiord. Relax as you enjoy the best of both worlds from above and from the sea.

What's Included

  • Tea and coffee Coffee and/or Tea
  • Lunch
  • Live pilot commentary on board

    Meeting and Pickup

    Pickup point
    Pickup details

    We provide a pick-up/drop-off service from all centrally located Queenstown accommodation, for an additional cost, please update us with your details. If your accommodation is not centrally located, please let us know and we will send through parking directions.

    OR
    Meeting point

    Tex Smith Lane
    Frankton, Queenstown 9300, New Zealand

    Show on Google Maps

    Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

    End point

    This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

    What To Expect

    Air Milford

    On arrival that the Air Milford base you will meet your pilot, for a full pre-flight briefing, before embarking on your 35 minuet scenic flight over the Southern Alps, to Milford Sound.
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    15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

    Coronet Peak Ski Resort (Pass By)

    After takeoff, view Coronet Peak, one of New Zealand's premiere ski fields.
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    Skippers Canyon (Pass By)

    Fly over the Shotover river and Skippers canyon, this is where gold was discovered in the 1860's. This river became the world's 2nd highest gold bearing river in the world, next to the Klondike in Alaska.
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    Glenorchy-Queenstown Road (Pass By)

    Fly over the small settlement of Glenorchy, located at the head of Lake Wakatipu. Here you enjoy wonderful views of two braided river mouths joining the lake. The two rivers are the Dart and the Rees, both glacial fed, display wonderful colors as they mix with the lake.
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    Routeburn Track (Pass By)

    Fly over the dense beech forest of the Routeburn and Hollyford. valleys. One of new Zealand 'great walks' traverses the Routeburn valley, its a 3-day hike through the valley and over an alpine pass into Fiordland National Park.
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    Fiordland National Park (Te Wahipounamu) (Pass By)

    Fly over the main divide of the Southern Alps and into Fiordland National park. One of the first sights you will encounter on arrival in Fiordland National Park is Mt Tutoko, at over 8,900ft / 2,700meters it is Fiordland's highest peak. There are two main glaciers to view here, the Donne and the Age.
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    Milford Sound (Pass By)

    Fly the full length of the fiord, right out to the Tasman sea where you will turn and descend, before coming into land. This part of the flight really makes you appreciate the sheer size of the towering cliffs of the fiord, which rise over a mile high in some parts!
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    Mitre Peak (Pass By)

    View the highest peak in Milford Sound, Mitre Peak. It impressively rises directly out of the water of the fiord, to it's summit at 5,560ft / 1,690 meters, which is just over a mile of vertical gain!
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    Milford Sound (Pass By)

    Experience the overhead beauty of Milford Sound
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    Milford Sound Airport (Pass By)

    When your cruise returns, your pilot will meet you and escort you back to the airport. If time allows, the pilot will take you on a short bush walk through the native beech forest. The flight time back to Queenstown is 35 minuets.
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    Milford Sound Airport (Pass By)

    After landing in Milford Sound, your pilot will escort you to the boat docks to board your Milford Sound Nature Cruise.
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    Cruise Milford

    On your cruise, numbers are capped at 150 passengers and on this intimate experience, nature guides offer a personal commentary. The boat explores nooks and crannies along the edge of the fiord, nudging into sheer rock faces to examine flora and fauna in detail. The boat traverses the full length of the fiord, right out to the Tasman Sea, allowing guests to relax and take in the stunning scenery.
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    1 hour 45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

    Sutherland Falls (Pass By)

    After taking off in Milford Sound the flight path first takes in another view of the fiord, before tracing south, down the Arthur valley. At the head of this valley, the Sutherland Falls can be viewed, this is New Zealand's highest waterfall, falling impressively 1,900ft / 580 meters to the valley floor below.
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    Bowen Falls

    During your cruise, view the Bowen Falls, it is one of Milford Sound's two permanent waterfalls and at 530ft / 162 meter is it's highest.After rainfall, there are hundreds of waterfalls to be viewed in the fiord!
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    5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

    Greenstone and Caples Tracks (Pass By)

    After once again crossing the main divide of the Southern Alps, taking in stunning views of small alpine lakes and jagged snow capped mountains, the route then traverses the densely forested Greenstone and Caples valleys.
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    Lake Wakatipu (Pass By)

    After emerging from the Greenstone valley, fly over Lake Wakatipu. Lake Wakatipu is New Zealand's longest lake at 46 miles / 75 kms, it is also incredibly deep, up to 1,250ft / 380 meters at some points!Queenstown is nestled on the lake's shores, so some great views of the town are enjoyed before landing.
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    Walter Peak Station Wharf (Pass By)

    View the Walter Peak high country station, which is one of New Zealand's largest merino sheep farms.
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    Air Milford

    View the Remarkable mountain range and Queenstown, before landing back at the Air Milford base for your drop-off back to your accommodation.
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    15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

    Lake Te Anau (Pass By)

    The flight path then begins to track east over the Southern Alps and back towards Queenstown. New Zealand's second largest lake, Lake Te Anau can be viewed, stretching out to the south.
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    Show 17 more stops

    Additional Info

    • Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
    • Wheelchair accessible
    • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
    • Subject to favorable weather conditions. If cancelled due to poor weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date or full refund
    • Do not forget to bring a jacket and your camera
    • Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking

    Frequently Asked Questions

    (8)

    Q: Will I get seasick on Half-Day Milford Sound Flight and Cruise from Queenstown?

    A: If you have any doubts about becoming seasick on the water, we recommend taking a Dramamine® Motion Sickness Relief tablet the night before your trip. Some people recommend taking it the night before your cruise and then again that morning so you will not feel so drowsy. Read more Feb 2023

    Cancellation Policy

    You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

    Still have questions?

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    Activity code: C-38244P1

    Traveler Photos

    Reviews

    4.97
    627 reviews

    Average 4.97 out of 5 stars based on 627 traveler reviews collected by City Boat Tours and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

    5 stars
    609
    4 stars
    16
    3 stars
    2
    2 stars
    0
    1 star
    0

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    What's Included

    American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

    American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

    • Tea and coffeeCoffee and/or Tea
    • Lunch
    • Live pilot commentary on board
    • Hotel pickup and drop-off (centrally located hotels)
    • Reserved seating aboard the Nature Cruise of Milford Sound

    Additional Info

    American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

    American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

    • Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
    • Wheelchair accessible
    • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
    • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
    • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
    • Subject to favorable weather conditions. If cancelled due to poor weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date or full refund
    • Do not forget to bring a jacket and your camera
    • Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
    • Infant rates apply for 0 - 1 years of age, when the infant is sat on a parents lap, with an infant lap belt
    • Children must be accompanied by an adult
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers

    Report Product Issue

    American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

    American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

    Free Cancellation

    American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

    American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

    100% refund
    No refund

    You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

    • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
    • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
    • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
    • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (NZST).
    • This tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
    • This tour requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

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